Challenges Related to Cannabis Clinical Research

State and federal legislators and healthcare specialists are looking for new approaches to treat the sick in light of the increasing opioid abuse issue. Cannabis for medicinal use is a significant subject of study among the general public and clinical health experts alike. Cannabis is a complex medicine with multiple active components, making it an excellent candidate for clinical trials. It is necessary to identify an effective, safe, correct, and adequate dose to treat certain medical diseases. This study examines a particular aspect of cannabis clinical research and offers a strategy for navigating it.

There is a knowledge gap in the clinical field regarding Cannabis in healthcare and its decriminalization process, thus the pending scientific progress. As assessed by Hutchison et al., a huge population in America are heavily spending on purchasing cannabis to treat particular medical concerns. Yet, there is no research to advise appropriate dose, delivery methods, formulations, possible adverse effects, or medicine interactions¹. Similarly, state-regulated marketplaces provide innovative cannabis compositions that have seen tremendous growth in sales and may have a therapeutic use, but the hazards associated with these formulations remain unclear. As a result, research on the possible medicinal benefits and hazards of cannabis has significantly surpassed availability and usage in the U. S.

The most obvious impediment is cannabis’ schedule I classification, which is reserved for medications with a high potential for abuse, no recognized medicinal purpose, and a lack of recognized safety for usage under the care of a physician (e.g., medical trials)¹. This Schedule I classification has four negative consequences. To begin with, there is just one legal cannabis provider on the federal level (NIDA -National Institute on Drug Abuse)¹. Second, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now a major impediment to cannabis research¹. Third, and probably most crucially, the National Institutes of Health funds practically has little inquiry on cannabis’ medicinal effects¹.

Oncologists and their patients routinely debate the therapeutic usage of cannabis. The accessibility of cannabinoid-based research drugs, federal laws, and other clinical trial limits are important considerations². Several studies have looked at cannabis usage in various ways. According to Coopper et al., these findings are often misinterpreted and/or miscommunicated to policymakers, healthcare professionals, and state health authorities. Although the majority of the oncologists believe in the drug efficacy, they lack the necessary understanding to provide sound advice². Despite these results, many oncologists choose to prescribe licensed medications with a greater body of research to back them up². Patients constantly hear about folks who have used extremely concentrated cannabis oils to treat their cancers, thus challenging the field work².

Other than government entities, outside scientific researchers competent in cannabinoid and therapeutic cannabis research is needed to overcome the problems mentioned above. Multinational collaborations have shown to promise to improve interdisciplinary research by using possibilities in other nations and maybe avoiding tough rules that stifle growth. It is, however, important to note that numerous institutions provide clinical researchers with tools to help them through regulatory difficulties. The FDA, for example, may provide advice and assistance. Despite the difficulty of doing clinical studies with cannabis and cannabinoids, powerful national and worldwide partnerships and networks of investigators have achieved substantial progress in this area, propelling science ahead in novel and meaningful ways.

References

1. Hutchison, K. E., Bidwell, L. C., Ellingson, J. M., & Bryan, A. D. (2019). Cannabis and health research: rapid progress requires innovative research designs. Value in Health, 22(11), 1289-1294.
2. Cooper, Z. D., Abrams, D. I., Gust, S., Salicrup, A., & Throckmorton, D. C. (2021). Challenges for Clinical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research in the United States. JNCI Monographs, 2021(58), 114-122.